A sun tracking system includes a first, and a second photo sensors, separately mounted on a solar panel on two positions apart from one another and symmetrical with respect to a center of the panel. A first sleeve surrounds the first photosensor; a second sleeve surrounds the second photosensor. Each of the sleeves has an inclined opening with reference to the surface of the panel.
Legal claims defining the scope of protection, as filed with the USPTO.
1. A sun tracking system for a solar panel, said sun tracking system comprising: a first sensor, located on a first location of said panel; a second sensor, located on a second location of said panel, wherein said first and second locations are symmetrical with respect to a center of said panel; a first sleeve, encircling said first sensor, and having a first skewed opening oriented in a first direction, and a second sleeve, encircling said second sensor, and having a second skewed opening oriented in a second direction opposite to the first direction; and at least one photo-electricity conversion element positioned between said first and second sensors for collecting and converting solar energy into electricity or heat.
2. A sun tracking system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said first skewed opening is oriented away from the second sensor and said second skewed opening is oriented away from the first sensor.
3. A sun tracking system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said first skewed opening is oriented toward the second sensor and said second skewed opening oriented toward the first sensor.
4. A sun tracking system as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising: a step motor coupled to said panel; and a control unit coupled to said step motor for controlling said step motor to adjust an orientation of said panel in response to signals received from said sensors.
5. A sun tracking system as claimed in claim 4 , wherein said control unit is programmed with a sun tracking algorithm that provides predetermined parameters to said control unit to control the orientation adjustment of said panel.
6. A sun tracking system as claimed in claim 4 , further comprising: a global positioning system coupled to said control unit for providing coordinates of said system to said control unit.
7. A sun tracking system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said solar panel comprises a plurality of said photo-electricity conversion elements positioned between said first and second sensors for collecting and converting solar energy into electricity or heat.
8. A sun tracking system as claimed in claim 7 , wherein said solar panel further comprises: a lens, on top of each of said photo-electricity conversion elements, for collecting sun light onto said respective photo-electricity conversion element.
9. A sun tracking system as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising: a third sensor, located on a third location of said panel; a fourth sensor, located on a fourth location of said panel, wherein said third and fourth locations are symmetrical with respect to the center of said panel; a third sleeve, encircling said third sensor, and having a third skewed opening oriented in a third direction, and a fourth sleeve, encircling said fourth sensor, and having a fourth skewed opening oriented in a fourth direction opposite to the third direction; each of said first through fourth directions being a different one of the cardinal directions.
10. A sun tracking system as claimed in claim 9 , wherein said photo-electricity conversion element is surrounded by said first through fourth sensors.
11. A sun tracking system as claimed in claim 9 , wherein said first skewed opening is oriented away from the second sensor and said second skewed opening is oriented away from the first sensor; and said third skewed opening is oriented away from the fourth sensor and said fourth skewed opening is oriented away from the third sensor.
12. A solar panel, comprising: first and second sensors located on said panel; at least a photo-electricity conversion element positioned on said panel between said first and second sensors for collecting and converting solar energy into electricity or heat a first sleeve encircling said first sensor and having a first skewed opening oriented in a first direction, and a second sleeve encircling said second sensor and having a second skewed opening oriented in a second direction opposite to the first direction.
13. A solar panel as claimed in claim 12 , wherein said first skewed opening is oriented away from the second sensor and said second skewed opening is oriented away from the first sensor.
14. A solar panel as claimed in claim 12 , wherein said first skewed opening is oriented toward the second sensor and said second skewed opening oriented toward the first sensor.
15. A solar panel as claimed in claim 12 , further comprising: third and fourth sensors located on said panel to be 90 degrees apart from the first and second sensors; a third sleeve encircling said third sensor and having a third skewed opening oriented in a third direction, and a fourth sleeve encircling said fourth sensor and having a fourth skewed opening oriented in a fourth direction opposite to the third direction.
16. A solar panel as claimed in claim 15 , wherein each of said first through fourth directions being a different one of the cardinal directions.
17. A solar panel as claimed in claim 15 , wherein said first skewed opening is oriented away from the second sensor and said second skewed opening is oriented away from the first sensor; and said third skewed opening is oriented away from the fourth sensor and said fourth skewed opening is oriented away from the third sensor.
18. A solar panel as claimed in claim 15 , wherein said photo-electricity conversion element is surrounded by said first through fourth sensors.
Cooperative Patent Classification codes for this invention. Click any code to explore related patents in that topic.
November 7, 2007
December 7, 2010
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